Basket.



PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

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H' 0' WILCOX.

BASKET.

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No. 821,074. PATENTED MAY 22, 1906. H. 0. WILGOX.

BASKET..

APPLIGATION FILED 001:21. 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.21.1904.

wwwWIW A www HETTIE O. WILCOX, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BASKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1906.

Application filed October 21,1904. Serial No. 229,392.

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Be it known that I, IIETTIE O. WILooX, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Baskets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention contemplates an improvement on the form of basket shown and described in my other application, Serial No. 229,391, filed by me in the United States Patent Oiiicel on the 21st day of October, 1904 and the object of my present invention., generally stated, is to provide an improved construction and arrangement embodying the principles of the basket shown in my said copending application; and a special object is to adapt the principles and novel features of the fruit-basket shown in said'application to the requirements of what is commonly known as a market-basketj. and it is also an object, of course, to provide certain details and features of improvement tending to increase the general efliciency and serviceability of a basket of this particular description or character, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of a market-basket embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. view of the basket-blank employed in the construction of the basket shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an inside view or view of the inner surface of said basket-blank. Fig. 5 is an outside view of the handle-blank. Fig. '6 is an edge view of the said handle-blank. Fig. 7 shows the integral sheet of material, which is practically coeXtensive with the blank. Fig. 8 shows the [ieXible and transverse reinforcing-band, to the end portions of which the handle of the basket is connected.

As illustrated, the basket-blank, which is in the nature of a web, comprises a flat bottom portion 1, having two integral side portions 2 2 and the integral end portions 3 3. It will be seen that the said bottom portion is also provided with integral portions 4 and 5, formed by cutting parallel slits or notches or by making incisions inwardly from the ends of the integral piece of veneer or other similar material from which the plain flat bottom portion 1 is made. The web as a whole is then materially strengthened by providing the cross-pieces 6, which are inserted across the blank in such manner as to be inside of Fig. 3 is an outsider the same being 3 and 4 and outside of the portions 5. It will also be seen that similar transverse or cross strips 7 are provided and woven or laced across the blank in such a manner that they are outside of the portions 3 and 4,- but inside of the portions 5. A further strengthening effect is given the blank or web as a whole by providing its parallel side edges with inner and outer hoop-strips 8, preferably longer than the veneer from which the bottom portion 1 is formed. In addition the longitudinal strip 9 is secured to the bottom or outside of the blank. Finally, the transverse strip or strengthening-band 10 is secured across the bottom or outer surface of the blank. It will be seen that the said strip 10 is composed of intermediate and end sections flexibly connected by the staples or strips of metal 1l. Furthermore, it will be seen that the ends of the strip 10 are provided with notches 12. The end portions of the strip 1() are clamped tightly between the inner and outer hoopstrips 8. As illustrated, the slits or notches 12 in strip 10 are spanned by staples or strips of metal 13, and the wood is prevented from splitting by the insertion of staples 14 at the ends of said slits or notches.

The handle-blank is composed of intermediate and end sections 15 and 16, flexibly connected by staples or strips of metal 17. The ends of said handle-blank are preferably beveled and provided externally with transverse grooves 18. In making the basket the said portions of the blank are folded upwardly from the bottom, and the ends of the portions 4 and 5 are then lapped on the portions 3 to form the two end walls of the basket. The projecting end portions of the hoop-strips 8 are lapped upon each other and fastened together with the end portions of the strip 9 between them. Staples or other fastening devices are then inserted through the said lapping end portions of the said hoop-strips for the purpose of holding the blank in its folded condition. The handle-blank is then bent into the shape shown in Fig. 1, the bending or articulation occurring at the points where the sections are connected by the staples or strips of metal 17. When this is done, the end portions of the handle can then be inserted downwardly between the inner and outer hoop-strips 8 and into the recesses or cavities formed by the notches 12. When adjusted in place, the grooves 18 of the handle engage the staples or strips of metal the portions IOO 13. Obviously the tendency when the handle is grasped is to pull the upper side portions of the handle together and spread the lower ends of the same outwardly. Thus when the basket is carried the weight is exerted in such manner that the lower grooved portions of the handle tend to press outwardly, and thereby maintain the grooves in engagement with the staples 13, and as the handle is attached to a strengthening band which extends transversely around the basket it is obvious that a very strong and serviceable construction is provided.

It will be seen that the portions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 constitute a continuous or integral sheet of material having substantially the same outline as the blank, and when the blankis folded into shape the hoop-strips with which the side edges of said sheet of 1naterial are provided constitute the rim of the basket and are adapted to lap upon the portions 3, which latter are integral with the bottom of the basket. In this way the basket is practically constructed from a single blank composed of a single integral or continuous sheet of material reinforced in different points and directions crosswise of the grain of the wood, and I do not, therefore, limit myself to the particular construction shown and described.

What I claim as my invention is` 1. A basket-blank comprising an integral sheet of material having its end portions slitted longitudinally, rim-strips secured to the side edges of the said sheet and. provided with projecting end portions, and transverse strips interwoven in the slitted end portions ofthe sheet and secured at their ends to said rim-strips, substantially as set forth.

2. A basket-blank comprising an integral sheet of material having slitted end portions, rim-strips 8 secured to the side edges of said sheet, transverse strips 6 andv 7 interwoven in said slitted end portions of the sheet and having their ends secured to said rim-strips, a transverse band 10 extending across the outside of the blank and secured at its ends to the said rim-strips, and a longitudinal strip 9 between the said sheet and band, substantially as set forth.

3. A basket-blank comprising parallel rimstrips for the side edges of the blank, a transverse reinforcing band extending entirely across the outside of the blank and secured at its ends to the middle portions of said rimstrips, said band being flexible and having longitudinal notches at its ends, strips of metal spanning said notches, and a handle having end portions adapted to be inserted between the rim-strips, when the blank is folded, and provided with transverse outside grooves adapted to engage said strips of metal, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, this 8th day of October, 1904.

HETTIE O. WILCOX.

Witnesses:

CLARENCE M. THoRNE, LUCY W. WRIGHT. 

